Punjabi poet, writer Surjit Patar passes away at 79

Former President Pratibha Patil presenting the Padma Shri Award to Punjabi poet Surjit Singh Patar. File.
| Picture Credit score: R.V. Moorthy

 Padma Shri recipient Punjabi poet Surjit Patar handed away on Saturday morning at his residence close to the Barewal Colony right here. He was 79.

Patar died in his sleep, his members of the family stated.

His spouse Bhupinder Kaur tried to wake him up round 6:30 am however he didn’t reply. He was declared lifeless by a health care provider, they stated.

Patar is survived by his spouse and two sons — certainly one of them lives in Australia.

Gurbhajan Gill, an in depth affiliate of Patar, stated cremation is prone to be carried out on Monday after Patar’s son arrives from Australia.

Many political leaders, actors and singers, together with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, expressed grief over the demise of Patar and stated it’s a huge loss for the Punjabi literary neighborhood.

Patar’s poetic works embrace ‘Hawa Vich Likhe Harf’, ‘Hanere Vich Sulagdi Varanmala’, ‘Patjhar Di Pazeb’, ‘Lafzaan Di Dargah’ and ‘Surzameen’.

He acquired the Padma Shri within the discipline of literature and training in 2012. Patar was the president of the Punjab Arts Council. He had additionally been the president of the Punjabi Sahit Akademi.

The poet and author has been awarded with the Sahitya Akademi Award, Panchnad Puruskar, Saraswati Samman and the Kusumagraj Literary Award.

From Patar village in Jalandhar district, he did his commencement from Randhir school in Kapurthala and Ph.D on “Transformation of Folklore in Guru Nanak Vani” from the Guru Nanak Dev College.

He retired as a professor of Punjabi from the Punjab Agricultural College in Ludhiana.

Patar has additionally translated the three tragedies of Federico Garcia Lorca, Girish Karnad’s play Nagmandala, and poems of Bertolt Brecht and Pablo Neruda into Punjabi.

In a publish on X, Chief Minister Mann stated he was deeply saddened by the passing away of Patar.

Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring known as it an irreparable loss for Punjabi literature.

He stated he was saddened over the demise of Patar who served the Punjabi language and made it shine on the world map.

Former Punjab chief minister and BJP chief Amarinder Singh on X stated, “Finish of an period, as well-known Punjabi author and poet Padma Shri Surjit Patar Sahib has handed away at present. My heartfelt condolences to his household and hundreds of thousands of followers worldwide. Punjab has misplaced an icon at present.” Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal stated the loss of life of Patar has left a void on this planet of literature.

“After Shiv Batalvi, Patar Sahib was the preferred and beloved poet of Punjabis. I categorical my heartfelt condolences to his household and his well-wishers,” Badal stated.

Punjabi actor Gurpreet Ghuggi whereas expressing grief over Patar’s loss of life stated, “Alvida :Padam Shri Surjit Patar ji you’ll stay in our hearts perpetually.” Singer Harbhajan Mann stated, “The world of Punjabi literature has misplaced a gem at present. Relaxation in peace Surjit Patar ji.”